OKLAHOMA CITY – Mid-America Christian answered a nine-point loss to Wayland Baptist in the first half of Sooner Athletic Conference play with a nine-point, 83-74 victory over the Flying Queens here Thursday night.
No. 9 Wayland (19-3, 11-2) fell on the road for the first time in 13 appearances, while MACU (17-2, 10-2), ranked the equivalent of 29th in the NAIA, remained unbeaten on its home floor with its eighth straight triumph.
The loss dampened a milestone for junior Jenna Cooper, who became the 52nd member of the Flying Queens’ 1,000-point club.
After beating MACU in the first semester 77-68, this time the Flying Queens fell behind by nine in the first five minutes of the game when the Evangels connected on four 3-pointers. WBU worked its way back in it, trailing by only one, 30-29, after a high-scoring first quarter and taking a four-point lead in the second. MACU went into intermission up 45-42.
The Queens scored the first four points of the second half to go up one, but that was their last lead of the game. MACU rattled off 10 unanswered points as a series of missed shots and turnovers hurt Wayland.
Down a dozen early in the fourth, the Queens made a bit of a run and closed to within six, 76-70, with a chance to get even closer. But Wayland missed two shots, then an and-one by MACU gave the Evangels a nine-point advantage with 2:00 to play. The home team hit four straight free throws to seal it.
While MACU shot 50 percent (32-of-64) from the field, Wayland hit at a 39 percent clip (25-of-64). The Queens hit eight 3s, one fewer than MACU, and outscored the Evangels at the free-throw line (16-of-19 vs. 10-of-12) while having one fewer turnover (13 vs. 14). MACU outrebounded Wayland, 35-33.
Kaylee Edgemon led all scorers with 21 points, followed by Canton Moreno with 16, Jenna Cooper with 14 and Angel Hayden with 10. Hayden also pulled down a game-best 12 rebounds for her third double-double of the season.
Presley Payahsape paced MACU with 18 points, followed by Sydney Wycoff with 17, Ossyana Ozoani with 14 and Lexi Hernandez with 11. Ozoani got nine rebounds and became MACU’s career rebounds leader.
WBU will look to start a new winning streak on Saturday afternoon in Bethany, Okla., against Southwestern Christian (10-7, 5-6). Wayland defeated the Eagles, 65-55, to open SAC play back on Nov. 18.